Tucker County Historic Landmark Commission
There will be a meeting of the Tucker County Historic Landmark Commission on Tuesday, November 12, at Camp KIdd at 5:00 PM. The Public is invited to attend if they wish.
Buckwheat Dinner
St. Johns Church will be having a buckwheat/pancake dinner on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 4 – 6:30 p.m. Sausage, gravy and biscuits will also be available for carry out orders please call 304-478-2620. A $12 donation will be accepted.
Soccer Story w/pic
Over the last few years, the love for playing soccer has deepened within the Tucker County community. There is something special about sitting on the sidelines on a crisp fall day, watching a group of children who are excited to play soccer. They are not just teammates, they are friends, who year after year have gotten to know each other because of their love for the game.
Starting at age 4, your child has the ability to get their feet wet with soccer while playing U6 with children ages 5 and 6. This age group learns the basics of soccer. Learning that you can’t touch the ball with your hands, how to dribble the soccer ball and which direction your goal is. Jess Waldo coached the U6 team this year and had this to say,“Coaching the U6 Cardinals has been so rewarding. It’s amazing to watch these kids grow with every practice. It’s hard not to be competitive during the games!” Since the U6 is the beginning year of playing soccer, there are no playoffs for this age group.
The next age group is U8 and it is for children ages 7 and 8. This is the year that your child will learn more about positions and what each of those positions do. They will be taught how to pass the ball to their teammates and how to work together. Sara Litzau and Tyler Waldo coached the U8 team together. “The U8 Pikes had a great season! We had a 13 member team who worked hard and had fun! They began learning positions and quickly came together as a team with passing and camaraderie. We focused on each player learning the different positions. It was nice to pair up the experienced players with the younger kids to play together at each position, too. We saw so much improvement over the season. They were so proud to make it to the championship game at the end of the season! Way to go, Pikes!” They ended their season second in the championship.
U10 consists of children ages 9 and 10. This is the year when referees will be introduced to the game and the year that there are also goalkeepers. Athey and Maggie Lutz were the coaches of the U10 team this year. The U10 Lightning team had a great season with a majority of wins in their record. More importantly than the scores, several refs complimented the team’s passing, saying it was some of the best they’d seen in U10. This young team worked hard every practice, gave it their all every game and made it second in the championship. Coach Maggie said “the kids were fun to coach and their love of soccer made this a season she’ll always cherish.”
U12 is for children ages 11-12. The basics they have learned through the years are now all coming together. Sarah Deacon, Kurt Snider and Ryan Hansen coached the U12 team this past season. The U12 Chargers were a young team that had a couple of U10 players step up and play up an age division for the season. Throughout the season the team focused on improving their passing and team defending, which contributed significantly to their success on the field. Coach Sarah Deacon noted “Every player on the Chargers scored a goal this season showcasing our strong teamwork.” The team’s hard work at practice and in the games paid off with a second place finish in both the regular season and tournament.
All season long coaches, referees and other parents commented on how kind and considerate each and everyone of our players were. Sportsmanship and how to treat others are also skills that our coaches are demonstrating and teaching the players.
The last age group is U15. Tucker County does not have an entire team yet that plays in this age division but there are players from here that travel to Oakland for practices and games.
Our goal is to continue to grow the soccer program in the county and allow children the ability to be able to play locally. Right now we are playing in the Oakland recreational league. We hold practices at the Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School field and play our games in Oakland, MD at the Loch Lynn fields. Our future goal is to have a middle school team. This past season we had players from Parsons join our teams and are always excited when more want to join.
Coach Sarah Deacon keeps moving up with the original U6 team she started coaching in 2017. That group of children was the U12 Chargers team this past season. She has created coaching manuals for every age division so all of the coaches and players are on the same page when it comes to foundations, fundamentals and skill.
Sign ups for Mountain Top Soccer start in May. If your child would like to join our team, registration forms will be available at https://www.mountaintopsoccer.org/ Just make sure you put “Tucker County team” in the comment section on the registration form.
Open Enrollment Period for HealthCare.gov Begins November 1
WV Navigator expands its free program to increase access to affordable healthcare coverage.
CHARLESTON, WV – November 1st marks the first day of Open Enrollment providing West Virginians an opportunity to enroll in health insurance for the coming year, and the Charleston based program WV Navigator is ready to help.
WV Navigator is a federally funded non-profit program that provides free help to individuals and families evaluating health coverage options through the Marketplace, Medicaid, or CHIP. Program staff are available to assist consumers in the process of applying, comparing options, accessing financial assistance, and selecting coverage through HealthCare.gov.
During Open Enrollment, those not eligible for insurance through Medicare, Medicaid, or employer-based insurance may purchase insurance under Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage provisions. Approximately 97% of those who contacted the program last year received subsidies to make the insurance more affordable. New rules have increased subsidies making it possible for more individuals to qualify for the low-cost plans, some as low as $10 per month.
Operating since 2015, WV Navigator received record level funding this year. The additional funding allowed the program to increase staffing and community access. With five offices throughout the state and services available virtually, by phone and in person, WV Navigator is ready to provide all West Virginians free assistance navigating coverage options.
Jeremy Smith, program director for WV Navigator, says getting help signing up is essential. Many people are overwhelmed by the options or may not realize how to shop for affordable health coverage. Smith says that the increase in funding has really helped the program expand and get the word out about the Marketplace. “The historic increase in funding for our program last year, and then again this year, has helped our program increase our enrollments by over 114% from the year before. Word has gotten around that these are legitimate, affordable plans.” Smith says. “Our Navigators have been working hard to help get the word out to people about the benefits of the Marketplace and we are excited to see how this Open Enrollment goes!”
In 2024 during a period of historic ACA growth, WV led the nation increasing enrollment by 80.2%. Unfortunately and despite this incredible increase, the state’s uninsured rate remains 5.9%, meaning more than 100,000 West Virginians have no healthcare coverage. Going into 2025, WV Navigator is ready to set records once again. With a goal of 0% uninsured West Virginians, the program is asking readers to help uninsured friends and family know where to turn for enrollment help.
West Virginians are urged to note Open Enrollment deadlines. Though Open Enrollment will officially end January 15th, those seeking coverage as of January 1st, must enroll by December 15th. Even those seeking to re-enroll are encouraged to double-check the network and prescription drug coverage for any changes and update their information in case they qualify for additional cost savings. The WV Navigator program is available for free in-person or telephone assistance. Call 1-844-WV-CARES or visit www.WVnavigator.com to book an in-person appointment in Charleston, Beckley, Fairmont, Huntington, or Martinsburg.
This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,250,000 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Movie Premier for Time Alone at Laurel River Club B&B
In the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, Eloise finds herself isolated in a secluded farmhouse. She has no idea if there are any other survivors. She is taken from her comfortable life and daily routine and thrown into an uncertain world. Gone is her husband, family, job – destroyed is anything familiar and comforting, replaced by terror fueled by sadness. Time Alone serves as a stark, realistic wake-up call, prompting viewers to ponder a critical question: “Are you prepared?”
Filmed on location at the Laurel River Club Bed & Breakfast in Jenningston, West Virginia, this film delves into the essence of faith and human relationship on a survival level. Visit the farm for a premier of Time Alone in Fear & Sadness on November 9th. There will be an outdoor viewing of the film at 6 pm, but both November 9th and 10th will be filled with activities to answer the question, How Would You Survive?
Would you be like Eloise? How would you fare on your own in the wilderness? Explore your options at the B&B on Saturday, November 9th from Noon – 7 pm and again on Sunday, November 10th starting at10 am. On Saturday, you’ll be able to meet the cast and crew of Time Alone in Fear & Sadness. Maggie Shirk is the story creator and co-writer of the film. She also plays the lead role of Eloise. Subtle elements of faith are woven into this tale and ultimately the goal is to let the viewers decide how she happens to be where she is. Producer Collin Rafter said the story is “gritty, sentimental, and hopeful. It comes at a great time where so much focus is on self-empowerment, and “Eloise”, our main character, is a living truth of the choices we must make to continue on in our own journeys.” Director Derek Patterson will not be able to make the premier.
As to how the location was chosen, Marsha Waybright, caretaker of the Laurel River Farm, said, “The film company was looking for a big farm house in a country setting. The director, Derek Patterson, found LRCBNB online and fell in love with the house. The producer, Collin Rafter, contacted me hoping we could work together to make it happen.”
Various hands-on learning activities will take place on Saturday from Noon – 5 pm such as learning how to make salves, and finding and preserving food. Farm Tours will let you explore this educational working farm and learn about sustainable farming practices. There will be special photo opportunities, and a falconry presentation by the Laurel Fork Falconer. The 6 pm film premier will be followed by a bonfire and s’mores at 7 pm. A special 10 am hike will take place the next day, November 10th, with Julie Gayheart, Nicholle Flood-Sawczyszyn and Keven Honeycutt. Campsites are available for $10 with proceeds benefiting North Carolina hurricane recovery. Safe & Found, an educational documentary featuring the Haywood County Search and Rescue Team, will be shown also. This movie gives insight into what it’s like to work on a Search and Rescue Team in one of the most remote areas of western North Carolina and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In addition to learning about hiker safety from a Search and Rescue perspective, you’ll hear accounts from those who have been rescued, and from a daughter who lost her mother.
Waybright said of Time Alone, “I love it! It’s a short film that makes you think about what you would do if you were in this situation. Preparation and knowledge is key.” She said she will have a copy at the B&B for future watch parties. “It will be shown at more film festivals as well. We are looking forward to rolling out a survival curriculum that will be a follow up to the film.”
Visit the Laurel River Club B&B and experience the best West Virginia has to offer. You’ll learn about the outdoors and how to survive on your own. Once you experience this gem tucked away in the hills, you’ll want to return again and again and explore every inch of the 250-acre farm and take part in the many activities the B&B offers.
For more information about the Laurel River Club B&B and surrounding farm, upcoming classes through the West Virginia School of Traditional Skills, or to book a stay, please visit www.lrcbnb.com or call (304) 402-7095. Find more info on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.